Combination amusement and educational building.



1-, C. SCHLEICHER.

COMBINATION AMUSEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDING.

APPLICATION. FILED FEB. 5, 1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 19M.

1, 146,454. Patented July 13, 1915.

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J. C. SCHLEICHER.

COMBINATION AMUSEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDING.

APPLlCATION FILED FEB. 5, 1914.

1, 1 46,454. Patented July 13, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIOE.

JOHN C. SOI-ILEICHER, OFMOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

COMBINATION AMUSEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDING.

Application filed February 5, 1914. Serial N 0. 816,807.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN C. Sonnriorrnn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county ofWVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combination Amusement and Educational Buildings; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in buildings and moreparticularly large public buildings arranged for accommodating largegatherings for amusement and educa tional purposes.

The main object of the invention is to pro vide a structure of thischaracter of large capacity which may be effectively used during allseasons of the year for amusement and recreation purposes as well as foreducational work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building of thischaracter having a circular auditorium with a central stage andeffective means for ventilating the room and directing the sound wavesoutwardly from the stage to all parts of the room.

Another object of the invention is to provide a public building of thischaracter having a large circular auditorium on its first floor with aseries of stepped stories rising above the same and having surroundingbalconies which communicate with separate towers or wings containing theelevator service, so that the building will be safe from dangersresulting from fire panics, since the persons in the building mayreadily pass from the immediate location of the fire topoints of safetyfrom which there will be ready escape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building of thecharacter referred to,

above which may have its auditorium used for vaudeville, moving pictureshows, etc, while its upper floors may be used for exhibition purposes,dancing, billiard rooms and similar amusement and educational pur poses;the building being also of such construction that it may be readilyconverted into a temporary school should it not be designed for suchpurpose when erected.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel fea- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

tures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will bemore fully described and claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings :,Figure 1 1s a diagrammatic verticalsectional view through a circular building constructedin accordance withmy invention; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional plan of portions of thecircular movable stage; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View of the circularauditorium; Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views taken on the planesindicated by the lines and 55 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofthe entire building on a reduced scale; Fig. 7 is'a diagrammatic topplan view of thesame; Fig. 8 is a partial elevation and vertical sectionthrough one of the wings at the front corners of the building; Fig. 9 isa similar view I through one of the wings at the rear corners; and Fig.10 is an enlarged detail sectional vlew showing the ventilating device.

Referring more particularly to the illustrated embodiment of myinvention, 1 de- I notes the first floor or story ofthe building whichis in the form of a circular auditorium having around its rear portionabalcony 2 which forms the second story or floor of the building. Thelatter may of course be of any size but I preferably make the buildingso that it occupies the usual city block or square bounded on threesides by streets and on the fourth side by an alley as indicated in Fig.3. From the first and second stories at the two front corners projectwings 3 which form entrances for the first floor of the auditorium andits balcony and on both floors of which there may be arranged ticketofiices 1-. On tllB'tWO rear corners of the square are Wings 5 whichrise the full height of the building and have their upper portionsconnected by corridors or passage-ways 6 to the upper stories of thebuilding which latter are of gradually decreasing diameter so that thisportion of the building is of stepped formation as Will be readily notedon reference to Figs. 1 and 9. On the wings 5 on one side are extensions7 forming shafts for elevators 8 and on the other side of the wings 5 onthe first and second stories are exten sions 9 forming entrances for thetwo floors I.

wings or towers 5 are separated from the main portion of the buildingand connected thereto by the covered bridges or passageways 6 so that incase of lire in any portion of the main building the occupants of theupper floors may readily pass to the wings 5 and descend in theelevators 8.

The entire building is to be made of fireproof construction and as faras possible the walls will be made of metal and have large windows topermit the entrance of plenty of sunlight and air so that the upperfloors will be healthful and cheerful especially when they are to beused as class rooms as indicated at 13 in Fig. 5. The upper floors ofthe building are divided by radial partitions 14 some of which may becomposed of folding sections 15 so that adjacent segi'nental shapedrooms maybe all thrown into communication. These partitions radiate froman inner central wall 16 which forms on each floor an inner circularroom l7'which may be used by the teachers or by the officers orattendants in charge of any exhibits or amusement devices which may beplaced in the different rooms on the upper floors. The inner rooms 17communicate with each other by means of circular staircases 18 whichwind around a centrally arranged air inlet pipe 19 which supplies freshair to the auditorium as hereinafter explained. It will be noted thatall of the upper floors have surrounding balconies 20 on to whichtheoccupants of the rooms may readily escape in case of fire and pass tothe bridges or corridors 6 and from thence to. the towers or wings 5.These balconies are of fire-proof construction and project outwardlyfrom the wall between each floor so that flames rising from the windowson one floor will not lick up into the windows of the floor above. Itwill be further noted that the rail of each balcony lies within thevertical plane of the rail of the balcony beneath so that should anypanic-stricken person jump over any balcony, he would fall but thedistance of one story. These balconies 20 not only serve as means forready access to different rooms of the building and means to escape incase of fire, but they may be also used for recreation purposes when theupper stories are used as school class rooms. The third floor has abalcony 21 of considerable width on which the children may play or whichmay be used as a promenade or for exercise by persons using thebuilding. The roof 22 is surrounded by a hand-rail and may be used. as aplay-ground by the children. If desired, the inner circular wall 16 ofthe top floor may be omitted as shown in Fig. 4 so that this room may beused as a circular dancing hall, skating hall, dining hall, or playhall.

In the center of the circular auditorium is a circular stage composed ofan outer annular stationary section 23 and a central circular verticallymovable section 24- Which may have a well or pit 25 for the musiciansand may contain a piano 26 mounted on a pivot 27 so that it may befolded down into the pit to enable the latter to be closed by a coverthereby making the top of the entire circular stage 24 flat. Theflooring of this stage is secured to a rectangular frame 28 ofchannelmetal and from the four corners of this frame rise suitablehoisting cables 29 passing over suitable guides and connected to ahoisting apparatus located at any desired point. These cables 29 arearranged adjacent four supporting columns 30 around which may pass ascreen or curtain 31 having suitable means for raising and lowering it.When this screen 31 is in position it will be noted on reference to Fig.3 that four different motion picture exhibits may be projected on itsfour flat stretches and consequently a series of such shows may besimultaneously operated in the auditorium. Of course the four sectionsof the auditorium may be separated from each other by screens orpartitions so that dif ferent priced shows may be operated at the sametime but even though such separating screens are not provided in theaisles between the seats, a person occupying a seat in any one of thefour quarters will have a good view of the picture projected on thescreen nearest to which he is located. In this connection it will benoted that when the building is used for school purposes and the upperfloors used as class rooms, the auditorium may be used as an assemblyroom and should there not be suiiicient class rooms, portions of thesections of seats in the auditorium in the first floor and balcony maybe separated by screens as. indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 so thatsuch inclosed portions may be used as class rooms. Beneath thestationary circular stage may be arranged dressing rooms, store rooms,etc., and all the apparatus used by the performers will be placed on thestage when it is lowered into the basement.

F 01' the purpose of providing effective ventilation for the auditoriumand enabling the sound waves from the stage to be projected in alldirections over the entireroom, the ceiling 32 is inclined upwardly andoutwardly from the center to the circular outer wall which latter hasmany windows or ventilating openings 33. The central air inlet flue orpipe 19 has a suction fan 34 arranged in it for drawing a large supplyof air downwardly and projecting it against the upper side of a double,substantially cone-shaped deflector 35 arranged in spaced relationbetween circular plates 36-3T. The upper plate or flange 36 is inclinedup wardly and outwardly and is placed. on the central portion of theceiling 33 around th open lower end of the pipe 19. The plate 37 isdished or cone-shaped and is connected to and spaced from the plate 36by brackets 38. The deflecting plate 37 converges toward the plate 36from its open central portion 39, outwardly and at the opening 39 thereis a cone-shaped or funnel shaped sound collecting plate l0 disposedabove the center of the stage and suitably connected to and supported bythe plate 37. The double cone-shaped deflecting member 35 is suitablyspaced between the plates 36-37 so that the sound waves rising from thestage will be collected by the plate 40 and directed upwardly andoutwardly by the lower portion of the deflector 35 so that the fresh airbeing deflected outwardly by the upper portion of the deflector 35 willdrive them outwardly to the distant portionsof the rooms. It will alsobe noted that the heat rising from the room to the ceiling will bedirected outwardly to the outlets 33 by the air currents.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, itis believed that the many uses and advantages of the invention will bereadily observed. A building of this construction may be used withcomfort during all seasons of the year and it may be used by a largenumber of persons and hence the cost of maintenance may be reduced tothe minimum and attractive shows provided for a small entrance fee.Because of its fire-proof construction and peculiar arr ngement of partsit will be entirely safe in case of fire or panic for the reasons abovegiven. The circular shape of the building gives it strength and alsoenables the occupants of the different portions to quickly and easilypass out since there are many exits and they 'a'diate from the center.When the building is used as a school all of the classes may beaccommodated in the auditorium or assembly room and after the morningexercises they may quickly pass to the different class rooms above andshould the school be crowded, some classes may remain in the auditorium,portions of which may be screened off as in: timated above.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising an air inlet pipe, asuction fan disposed therein, a sound collecting member operativelydisposed contiguous to the lower end of said air inlet pipe, and meanscooperating with the latter and said sound collecting member whereby theair flowing from said pipe and the sound waves from said soundcollecting member may be simultaneously directed in an outwarddirection.

2. A device of the character described flange surrounding the lower endof said air inlet pipe, a deflecting plate dependingfrom said flange inoffset relation thereto, said. plate having thereln an openingregistermgwith the open end of said air-inlet pipe, a sound collecting membersurrounding said opening, and projecting outwardly and downwardlytherefrom, and means interposed between said plate and the open end ofsaid air inlet pipe whereby air flowing from the latter and the soundwaves from said sound collecting member may be simultaneously directedoutwardly, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A device of the character described comprising an air inlet pipe, asuction fan disposed therein, an outwardly projecting flange surroundingthe lower end of said air inlet pipe, a deflecting plate depending fromsaid flange in offset relation thereto, said plate having therein anopening registering with the open end of said air inlet pipe, a

sound collecting member surrounding said opening and projectingoutwardly and downwardly therefrom, and a double n defleeting memberarranged in spaced relation between the lower end of said air inletpipeand the opening in said deflecting plate,

whereby air flowing from said air inlet pipe and the sound waves fromsaid soundcollecting member, may be simultaneously directed outwardly. p

L. A device of the character described comprising an air inlet pipe, asuction fan disposed therein, an outwardly and upwardly pro ectingflange surrounding the lower endof said air inlet pipe, a deflectingplate secured in offset relation with respect to said flange, said platehaving an opening therein registering with the open end of said airinlet pipe, a cone shaped sound collecting plate surrounding saidopening and projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom, and a doubledeflector arranged in spaced relation between the lower end of aid inletpipe and the opening in said deflecting plate, whereby the airflowingfrom the latter and the sound waves from said sound collectingmember may be simultaneously directed outwardly. a

5. A building having a circular auditorium with its ceiling inclinedupwardly and outwardly, a central air inlet pipe extending downwardlythrough the center of the ceiling, a sound collecting member secured tosaid ceiling contiguous to said inlet pipe, and a deflecting memberdisposed intermediate said sound collectingmember and said ceiling,whereby the air issuing from said inlet pipe and the sound waves fromsaid sound collecting member may be simultaneously directed against saidceiling and equally propagated in all directions by the latter,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A building having a circular auditorium with its ceiling inclinedupwardly and outwardly, a central air inlet pipe extending downwardlythrough the center of the ceiling, a fan in said pipe for sucking theair downwardly, a sound collecting member socured to said ceilingcontiguous to said inlet pipe, and a deflecting member disposedintermediate said sound collecting member and said ceiling, whereby theair issuing from said inlet pipe and the sound waves from said soundcollecting member may be simultaneously directed against said ceilingand equally propagated in all directions by the latter, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

7. A building having acircular auditorium with its ceiling inclinedupwardly and outwardly and with its side wall having ventilatingopenings, a central air inlet pipe extending downwardly through thecenter of the ceiling, a fan in said pipe for sucking the airdownwardly, a stage beneath said pipe, and means cooperating with saidoutwardly and upwardly inclined ceiling for simultaneously directing theair issuing from said pipe and sound waves disseminating from the stageagainst said ceiling, whereby they may be propagated equally in alldirections from said air inlet plpe, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

8. A building having a circular auditorium with its ceiling inclinedupwardly and outwardly and with its side wall having ventilatingopenings, a central air inlet pipe eX- tending downwardly through thecenter of the ceiling, a fan in said pipe for sucking the airdownwardly, a stage beneath said pipe, :1 cone-shaped sound collectingmember arranged above the stage and having a central opening, aninverted cone-shaped de flecting member surrounding said opening andinclined upwardly and outwardly toward the ceiling, but spacedtherefrom, and a double deflector member arranged in spaced relationbetween the lower end of said air inlet and the opening in saidconeshaped sound collecting member for cooperation with the latter andsaid deflecting member to simultaneously direct the air issuing fromsaid air inlet pipe and the sound disseminating from the stage againstsaid ceiling and propagate the same equally in all directions,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A structure of the character described comprising an inclosure openat its upper end, a top for the open end of said inclosure, said topbeing inclined outwardly and upwardly from its central portion, acentral air inlet pipe extending through the center of said top, a soundcollecting member secured in spaced relation to the under surface of thelatter, contiguous to said air inlet pipe, an air deflecting memberdisposed in termediate said closure and sound collecting member, andmeans acting in conjunction with the former and the latter, tosimultaneously direct the air issuing from said inlet pipe and the soundwaves from said sound collecting member against the outwardly andupwardly inclined surface of said closure, whereby said air and soundwaves are equally propagated in all directions, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth. v

10. A structure of the character described comprising an inclosure openat its upper end, a top for the open end of said inclosure, said topbeing inclined outwardly and up wardly from its central portion, acentral air inlet pipe extending through the center of said top, a fanin said pipe for sucking the air downwardly, a sound collecting membersecured in spaced relation to the under surface of the latter,contiguous to said air inlet pipe, an air deflecting member disposedintermediate said closure and sound collecting member, and means actingin conjunction with the former and the latter, to simultaneously directthe air issuing from said inlet pipe and the sound waves from said soundcollecting member against the outwardly and upwardly inclined surface ofsaid closure, whereby said air and sound waves are equally propagated inall directions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. A structure of the character described comprising a circularinclosure having its upper end open and its sides formed with openingscontiguous to said upper end, a top disposed upon the open end of saidinclosure, said top being inclined outwardly and upwardly from thecentral portion thereof, an air inlet pipe extending downwardly throughthe center of said top, a sound collecting member secured in oflsetrelation to the under surface of said top contiguous to said air inletpipe, an air deflecting plate disposed intermediate said soundcollecting member and said top, and means acting in conjunction withsaid sound collecting member and deflecting plate to simultaneouslydirect the air issuing from said inlet pipe and the sound wavesdisseminating from said sound. collecting member against said outwardlyand upwardly inclined top, whereby said sound and air may he directedtoward the openings in said inclosure, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

12. A device of the character described comprising an air inlet pipe, asound collecting member operatively disposed contiguous to the lower endthereof, and means coopermy hand in presence of two subscribing Witatlngmth the latter and szud sound collectnesses.

ing xnelnber, whereby the air flowing from JOHN C. SCHLEICHER sold plpeand the sound Waves from szud sound collecting member may be simul-Witnesses: taneously directed outward. ERWIN CHARLES SCHLEIOHER,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set VIOLET M. BRAMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

